Governor Dapo Abiodun establishes two new agencies, bars monarchs from signing MoUs on lands in Ogun state

The Ogun state Governor Dapo Abiodun has introduced three new Executive Orders, including a directive restraining traditional rulers from entering into Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) concerning land in the State.

The orders also established the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency and the Ogun State Landscaping and Recreation Agency.

This directive was announced in a statement by Hon. Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, on Saturday, 22nd of June, 2024.

The statement partly reads:

“Executive Order One: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OGUN STATE MINERAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AGENCY. Section 5(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 vests in the Governor of Ogun State, the exercise of executive powers of the State for the purpose of effective governance. The government’s responsibilities include the security, welfare, good governance, safety, and peaceful co-existence of all persons in the state, including in business clusters such as mining communities.

” Ogun State has rich and vast deposits of mineral resources which must be explored responsibly, judiciously, and without detriment to the environmental ecosystem in mining areas. NOW THEREFORE BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1999 (AS AMENDED) PRINCE ADEDAPO OLUSEUN ABIODUN, CON, HEREBY ORDER THAT: An Agency to be known as the Ogun State Mineral Resources Development Agency is hereby established.

” The Agency shall directly or through qualified third parties, conducts and establishes working relationship with host communities and local governments for the conduct of geo-technical and geological surveys of solid mineral deposit within their domains; geo-technical survey of solid mineral deposits in the State and maintain relevant data in the Sector; organises the solid minerals sector to the best interest of the State.

“Execitive Order Two: ESTABLISHMENT OF OGUN STATE LANDSCAPING AND RECREATION AGENCY. One of the current administration’s Transformation Agenda is the structure to anchor on a policy of thrust of a sustainable economy through its infrastructural renewal and poverty alleviation programmes, to restore order, and improve quality of life in the neighbourhood.

” Part of the visible evidence of the Transformation Agenda is the attraction of both Local and International commendation of the current administration’s vision in the State with regards to Tree planting, landscaping and beautification programmes in line with the International environmental standard and its vision for a flood free, hygienic and beautiful Gateway State such as to mitigate the effect of climate change. The Ministry of Environment has started a massive and aggressive tree planting campaign to complement the beautification and landscaping programs to ensure an environmentally sustainable, healthier, and most beautiful society.

“Executive Order Three: BARRING TRADITIONAL RULERS IN THE STATE FROM ENTERING INTO ANY FORM OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH REFERENCE TO MINING OR ANY OTHER LAND MATTERS.

” Ogun State has vast tracts of land containing mineral resources attractive to investors. The Ogun State Government is building a sustainable industrial economy which will significantly increase private investments, enhance job creation and improve revenue generation, thus making land, its management and use an area of key focus and interest. Whereas, the State recognises that to achieve the above, when miners and investors bid to acquire and explore available land for mining, industrialisation or any other approved use by the State Government, such acquisitions and explorations must be made through approved, standard, preset, and transparent processes.

“The State, therefore, observes the current trend in which miners and investors circumvent regulation and government oversight by encouraging Traditional institutions to interfere with land management by entering into Memorandums of Understanding and other irregular legal arrangements. NOW THEREFORE PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE CONSTITUTION AS THE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, I HEREBY ORDER AS FOLLOWS:

” That all forms of Traditional Institutions existing within the State are hereby with immediate effect barred from entering into any form of Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement with any individual, companies or organisations seeking Land within any part of the entire State for purposes of Mining or Industry and are to forthwith refrain from issuing any form of consent letters for mining across the State.” [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>